Oregon DE is rising fast

Rick Kimbrel | Recruiting Analyst

Four-star defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa (6-3, 245, 4.7) from Portland (Ore.) David Douglas is one of the western region's best prospects regardless of position. The talented sack master has 15 offers on the table from some of the nation's most powerful football programs.

"Recruiting is going really good for me," Odighizuwa said. "I've narrowed things down a little bit, I don't want to reveal that yet, but I'm still open.

Though Odighizuwa didn't want to real his narrowed list he name some of his favorite schools. Florida, Cal, USC, UCLA, Oregon State, Oregon, Nebraska, and Stanford were the schools that he mentioned as favorites.

Odighizuwa has taken unofficial visits to Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington. What does Odighizuwa think of the five schools that he has already seen?

"I like the new defensive line coach at Oregon a lot (Jerry Azzinaro)," Odighizuwa said. "Plus I know that Oregon has a pretty good academic reputation. I like Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti.

"I like Oregon State's whole entire coaching staff," Odighizuwa said. "I really like the family atmosphere and like the fact that they are a football team on the rise and that they are getting a lot better."

"Cal was my favorite visit," Odighizuwa said. "Kind of like Oregon State they have a family atmosphere and they are really good football team. Cal's academics are also really good. They have a really good academic reputation.

"I'm getting recruited by Tosh Lupoi and would actually be my position coach," Odighizuwa said. "He's a really cool person and he's actually the one that got me interested in Cal. I didn't really have any interest in Cal because I didn't know what they were about.

"When I was at Stanford, I was actually sick and they treated me very well," Odighizuwa said. "They helped me a lot and that kind of raise my eye that they take care of their guys. You already know, that their academics are really good and their football team is on the rise. It was all good.

"Washington was a good visit," Odighizuwa said. "I didn't stay there very long. I just watched the spring game a little bit and then I took off. I kind of chatted with the coaches a little bit and was given a tour of their academics center.

What does Odighizuwa feel about his other mentioned schools?

"I've never been to the campus of UCLA, so I haven't seen their school yet" Odighizuwa said. "But I like Coach Todd Howard a lot and he is keeping me very interested in UCLA. I feel that Coach Howard can get me ready for the next level, if that is my goal, which it is and I think he (Howard) has a lot of experience.

"At USC I have been talking a lot to Rocky Seto," Odighizuwa said. "He is a really cool person and he is a man of his faith. I can tell he's (Seto) a really honest person. He's really genuine.

"I also haven't been to been to Florida yet, but I have talked to Coach Urban Meyer a lot and Coach Dan McCarney and Coach Brian White the guy who is recruiting me," Odighizuwa said. "I keep in regular contact with them and let them know I have a very high interest in them and they have a very high interest in me. I just waiting for a time when I can go down and visit them and see what they are about.

"I know Florida has a really good football team, obviously," Odighizuwa said. "I just need to see everything else.

"With Nebraska, I like their defensive line coach, John Papuchis," Odighizuwa said. "He was the defensive line coach for LSU and has coached a lot of good players like Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. I also like what Coach Papuchis is doing for Ndamukong Suh at Nebraska. That's why Nebraska has my interest."

Is there a chance that Odighizuwa will take all five of his allotted visits before he makes his college decision?

"I think I will, but anything can happen," Odighizuwa said. "I'm not going to make any promises, but at this point I think I will take all five of my visits."

There is no timeframe for Odighizuwa's college decision at this stage of his recruitment.

The reason that Odighizuwa is such a highly coveted recruit is that he racked up 96 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries as a junior. His performance saw him earn Conference Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-conference and second-team all-state.

Odighizuwa earned a spot on the Rivals.com Rivals100 for the class of 2010 landing as the nation's No. 19th prospect at any position. He is also rated by Rivals.com as the country's No. 3 weakside defensive end prospect.